It is a rare opportunity for investigators to interview surviving passengers who observed their pilot’s actions during an accident sequence that destroyed their aircraft, killed the pilot and seriously injured others. But such was the case with the U.K. Air Accident Investigation Branch (AAIB) study of circumstances surrounding the loss of a Raytheon Beechcraft Super King Air 200 that crashed into a shallow lagoon immediately after departure from North Caicos Airport, Turks and Caicos Islands (TCI), British West Indies, on Feb. 6, 2007.
Hawker Beechcraft will halt Hawker 400XP production for 2011 and 2012 in favor of an upgrade program for existing Beechcraft/Hawker 400A/XPs. Bill Boisture, chairman and CEO of the Wichita manufacturer said Nov. 12, ”We think the market will remain relatively depressed, compared with historical markets, for 12 to 24 months,” adding that pricing on new aircraft has become difficult. The company has “worked our inventory on that product down” and decided that, rather than restocking and selling the airplane, Hawker would defer production and sales, he says.
“We can put a positive spin on it, saying that inventory is drying up, or activity is building . . . but most of the pre-owned market remains price-sensitive,” declared Vref Publisher Fletcher Aldredge in the most recent edition of his quarterly newsletter, Market Leader.
Thanks to an amended STC, StandardAero is now offering to upgrade Dassault Falcon 20s that have undergone the Rockwell Collins Pro Line 21 major retrofit. New features offered through the upgrade include dual multifunction displays, an integrated engine indication system and the ability to view video on the system’s multifunction display. Also, the integrated flight information system now includes XM Satellite weather Version 6.0, which offers winds aloft, satellite imagery, lightning data and temporary flight restrictions (TFR) information.
There’s no small irony that 100LL avgas is being viewed with disdain by some for the damage it might cause the global environment. Not all that long ago, its predecessor was regarded as a wonder fuel that eventually helped snuff a fire of cataclysmic dimensions that had threatened to consume all living things.
Dassault Falcon’s 2000LX received approval to operate into London City Airport. An autobrake for the Falcon 2000 family was developed to reduce landing distance following the steep (5.5 deg.) LCY approach. “Meeting these requirements is not an easy task but the convenience of flying into the heart of downtown London is highly valuable for business jet operators,” said Dassault Falcon President and CEO John Rosanvallon.
Sikorsky Innovations, the United Technologies helicopter manufacturer’s technology development arm, has made an equity investment in small, Marietta, Ga.-based Adaptive Flight, which develops small unmanned rotorcraft and flight control systems. Sikorsky says the investment, which it did not detail, advances its development of optionally piloted aircraft technology, manned-unmanned teaming, and its plans to demonstrate an unmanned cargo resupply mission with a UH-60 Black Hawk.
The risk and financial physics that control aviation insurance are more complex than the aerodynamics that control the aircraft that we fly. The insurance industry in turn controls our industry more directly than the FAA in a number of ways. Insurance underwriters have often lowered premiums to encourage the of use two-pilot crews in “single-pilot” aircraft, or to ensure that flight departments use more simulator training. Do underwriters lower premiums out of the goodness of their hearts? No. They are simply improving their odds.
Jet Aviation Basel won a contract to complete a VVIP Boeing 747-8 cabin for an undisclosed Middle East customer. Jet Aviation says it is the first completion center to be contracted to outfit a cabin interior for one of the eight VIP B747-8 aircraft sold to date. The Basel completions center will build a full-size cabin model of the aircraft so the client can experience a 1:1 view of the cabin interior during the decision-making process.
Piaggio Aero received both type and production certificates in November for its P.180 Avanti II business turboprop from Brazil’s National Civil Aviation, ANAC. The Avanti II can now be legally sold, registered and operated in Brazil.
Weststar Aviation Services of Malaysia has taken delivery of its first of nine AgustaWestland AW139 medium twin-engine helicopters. The helicopters will be used to perform transport missions supporting offshore oil and gas industry operations in Malaysia. Weststar Aviation Services is currently the largest commercial customer for the AW139 in the Asia Pacific region. The remaining eight aircraft will be delivered through March of this year. Pilot and technician training services and a comprehensive support package are being provided by AgustaWestland Malaysia Sdn Bhd.
Lee Juan Lanford, 87, founder of Associated Air Center (AAC), died from complications due to Alzheimer’s disease, Nov. 13. Lanford helped establish the Associated Radio Co., in 1948 at Love Field in Dallas, initially as a three-man operation that specialized in the repair and installation of surplus radio equipment in ex-military aircraft that were being converted into private/corporate aircraft. The firm added maintenance, repair and overhaul in 1968, including exterior modifications and refurbishments and the name changed to Associated Air Center.
Good communication within a flight department is essential for safe operations. Ensuring that all team members have a clear picture of what is happening to the aircraft and what needs to be done to make the aircraft flight ready is critical to safety. Many maintenance errors are caused by poor communication between technicians or between pilots and technicians. Over the years, there has been increased emphasis placed on improving communication skills for maintenance technicians — often cited as one of the “dirty dozen” human factors in aviation maintenance.
Sometimes no news is just that: no news. Snecma’s Silvercrest engine was originally launched as a 9,500- to 12,000-lb-thrust motivator for large and long-range jets — read: Gulfstream, Bombardier, Dassault. The company announced an 80-hr. test run on a developmental prototype that reportedly exceeded expectations, and the engine was poised to appear in service in 2012, Snecma said. Of course, that was back in 2008, when the business aviation world slid into an economic abyss, and now the premiere date has slid to 2014 but with no application airframe named yet.
Sikorsky has begun final assembly of the first production S-76D, with delivery scheduled for 2012. Czech manufacturer Aero Vodochody delivered the first production fuselage to Sikorsky Global Helicopters in Coatesville, Pa., in mid-November. The upgraded S-76D — with composite rotor blades, dual-speed rotor, active vibration control, Thales integrated flight deck and Pratt & Whitney Canada PW210S engines — is Sikorsky’s response to increased competition in the intermediate helicopter market.
Piper Aircraft has received a contract for six Piper Seminoles valued at $3.9 million from Airline Transport Professionals (ATP), a nationwide firm that specializes in airline pilot training and pilot career development. The airplanes will be delivered to ATP this year. ATP will use the aircraft for flight training it provides under Mountain State University’s ATP pilot operations degree program. The aircraft will increase ATP’s training fleet to 87 Piper Seminoles. ATP also operates 50 Cessna 172s, five Diamond DA40s and a CitationJet.
StandardAero has added four mobile service teams (MSTs) to its existing business aviation support network, for a total of nine. The new MSTs will be located in Little Rock, Ark.; Van Nuys, Calif.; San Jose, Calif.; and Dallas, Texas. The company also opened a Mobile Operation Center (MOC), operating 24 hr. a day, seven days per week, 365 days per year.
Once your roller coaster crests the lift hill, gathers momentum and then enters its first hard turn, remember to keep your neck and head aligned with your spine but — this is key – relax your shoulders, torso and butt. That way your body is flexible and will better adapt to the car’s motion and forces, rather than resist them. As a result, you’re more likely to come through the ride unbruised and better able to endure a repetition.
Thanks to the recent issuance of a series of FAA STCs, a number of in-service Dassault and Gulfstream aircraft equipped with Rockwell Collins Pro Line 4 and Pro Line 21 avionics can be upgraded to provide Wide Area Augmentation System (WAAS) Localizer Performance with Vertical guidance (LPV).
Air Charter Safety Foundation (ACSF), Alexandria, Va., announced the selection of Charles O’Dell, director of Sun Air Jets, Camarillo, Calif., as the newest member of the board of governors. Air Partner, London, England, has promoted Simon Wheatley to the position of U.K. manager of its Private Jets division, replacing Ben Bewsey, who has left the company. Air Transport Association, Washington, D.C., named Nicholas E. Calio president and CEO, effective Jan. 1. He succeeds James C. May, who has been president for the past eight years.
Lufthansa Technik and Panasonic Avionics Corp. are establishing a joint venture for the development, manufacture and sale of inflight entertainment (IFE) and cabin management systems (CMS) for VIP aircraft. Officials from the two companies say their new systems will be based on a combination of the technologies used in Panasonic’s X Series airline IFE system, Panasonic’s Global Communications Suite (eXConnect and eXPhone) and the “nice” CMS/IFE system developed by Lufthansa Technik’s Innovation Business Unit.
Raisbeck Engineering will provide its Ram Air Recovery System (RARS) for the new Beechcraft King Air 250. The system boosts performance throughout the flight envelope by reducing engine inlet turbine temperature by about 20°C, Raisbeck says. The effects include increased flat-rating for operation at hot, high-altitude airports; increased climb capability; increased cruise speeds; and a more efficient engine. The system is installed as a retrofit on Super King Air 200s and B200s, and more than 1,000 systems have been installed on King Airs since 1982.
Falcon 2000 owners can opt for a new cabin interior next time their aircraft visits Basel for major maintenance or a new paint job. Jet Aviation Basel, a designated Dassault Falcon completions center, launched its “Jet Falcon” cabin interior refurbishment program at MEBA 2010. The program offers three cabin interior designs — Classic, Style and Fashion, with standardized sets of designs and modular processes to keep downtime and costs to a minimum.
Sikorsky Aerospace Services delivered the first upgraded S-61 helicopter to the U.S. State Department, the company announced Dec. 3. Last year, the U.S. State Department entered into an IDIQ (indefinite delivery-indefinite quantity) agreement to purchase up to 110 upgraded S-61s for passenger and cargo transport missions in support of worldwide operations. To date, purchase orders for 17 aircraft have been placed by the State Department. The S-61 upgrade includes composite main rotor blades for better high/hot performance.
